Angels’ Mike Scioscia has all the weight of the playoff world on his shoulders

Los Angeles Angels manager Mike Scioscia talks to the media prior to a Major League baseball game against the Seattle Mariners on Opening Night at Angel Stadium of Anaheim in Anaheim, Calif., on Monday, March 31, 2014.
(Keith Birmingham Pasadena Star-News)

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ANAHEIM >> The Angels had a productive offseason and so did Angels manager Mike Scioscia, who shed 40 pounds.

Scioscia said he simply changed his diet to lose the weight.

“It’s not easy,” Scioscia said.

Scioscia said he has 20 more pounds to drop, but no matter how much weight he loses, he can’t shake the mountain of pressure on his shoulders. And the wings of these Angels.

The Angels must make the playoffs this season, and that campaign began Monday on Opening Day against Seattle at Angel Stadium.

It started with a thud as the Angels squandered an early lead, thanks to a Mike Trout blast, and lost, 10-3. A home opener is supposed to leave everyone feeling all warm and fuzzy.

This was bleak and hazy.

By the time it ended, much of the stadium that serenaded Trout with “MVP!” chants was gone. Trout hit a two-run homer in his first at-bat of the season in the first inning, but the bullpen looked very much like last season.

The bullpen surrendered six runs, five of them by Kevin Jepsen.

Not again.

Asked before the game if he thought the Angels were a playoff team, Scioscia said: “Yes.”

After the game, Scioscia was talking turn-the-page stuff again.

“It’s the first game,” Scioscia said. “These guys were throwing the ball well all spring … These guys are better than they showed (Monday).”

The Angels haven’t been to the postseason since 2009. They lost to the Yankees in the ALCS 4½ years ago and were out of it by April last year after that 9-17 start in the first month.

Really, the Angels were out of it by the end of April in 2012 as well. The Angels started that season 8-15.

Scioscia engineered the 2002 World Series champion Angels, but that was so 12 years ago. From 2002-2009, the Angels made the playoffs six of eight years.

Scioscia doesn’t admit there’s any more heat this year, but it’s getting hot in here at Angel Stadium.

“I don’t think there’s any more pressure or any less pressure,’’ Scioscia said before the Angels gave up the 10-spot. “I think it’s about going out there, getting the team ready and winning games, and we’re better prepared right now as we start this season than we have been in probably the last four or five seasons. I think our bullpen is, has more veteran presence and is very talented.”

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Signing Trout to a six-year, $144.5 million contract last week was the most important piece. Trout picked up where he left off last year and smacked a two-run homer to the left-field bullpen off Felix Hernandez in his first at-bat of the season.

The “MVP!!’’ chants happened before Trout even swung the bat. The ovation was more boisterous afterward.

The season didn’t get off to a good start for Angels hitting coach Don Baylor, and it had nothing to do with the Angels’ bats. Baylor caught the ceremonial first pitch from former Angel Vladimir Guerrero, who retired as an Angel before the game. Baylor reached to corral the pitch that went wide and went to the ground. It was an awkward fall, and when he tried to get up, his right leg buckled. Guerrero tried to help him up, and he had to be helped off the field by several people.

The Angels said he had a right leg injuy and was taken to UCI Medical Center for tests.

What an auspicious start to Opening Day.

The signing of free-agent reliever Joe Smith to a three-year, $15.75 deal was a key deal for the bullpen. Scioscia believes the upgrades to the bullpen, which was as shaky as a Southern California fault line in March, mean all the difference.

“The last few years have been pretty crappy,’’ Scioscia admitted. “The bar wasn’t set that high. What do you want me to say? I think a couple of years ago we won 89 games (in 2012) and actually won more games than some teams that made the playoffs.

“It’s disappointing that you don’t make it, but you really have to filter through some things and make some adjustments. Last year, some of our shortcomings were tangible and some things have been addressed. So I think we’re all excited about what we’ve got right now and hopefully, we’re going to carry it into the start of the season and get off on the right foot.”

They got off on the right bat of Trout on Monday, and Scioscia is off on a lighter foot.

Most importantly, the Angels need to shed that playoff burden and garner some postseason swagger.